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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 91 records · Page 5

PID-Regulated Heating System for PIP-II Reference Line

The Proton Improvement Plan 2 (PIP-II) centers on building a new superconducting linear particle accelerator (Linac) at Fermilab. At the heart of the accelerator is the reference line. It is a critical system that defines the ideal path for the beam as it passes through magnets, RF cavities, and other beamline elements. Temperature stability is crucial for the reliable operation of RF components, such as mixers and filters. Fluctuations affect key performance parameters like conversion loss, isolation, and linearity. To mitigate any drift caused by ambient temperature changes, a heating plate assembly is utilized to maintain key components at a controlled temperature of 40 C. Utilizing an actively regulated heating system, a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) based power control circuit which provides input to a controller; forming a closed-loop system that maintains the desired setpoints with high precision.

Mosher, Alexander [U. Illinois, Chicago]↗

Application of a Novel Heat Pump Model for Estimating Economic Viability and Barriers of Heat Pumps in Dairy Applications in the United States

Heat pumps represent an important opportunity for energy savings and decarbonization. This work investigates the techno-economic performance of high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) for use in the U.S. dairy industry. The studied heat pump performs a 50 °C temperature lift on a waste heat stream of cleaning water and applies the upgraded heat stream to a fluid milk pasteurization process. This work involved the creation of a HTHP model that estimated the coefficient of performance (COP), internal rate of return (IRR), net present value (NPV), and payback period (PBP), and emissions saved for a heat pump replacing a natural gas boiler. Capital costs, operations, and maintenance (O&M) cost, heat pump lifetime, electricity prices, natural gas prices, and a cost of carbon were varied to perform a parametric study on the factors affecting the break-even price of HTHPs. The results show that HTHP economics are highly sensitive to COP and energy price environment, and less sensitive to capital and O&M cost variance, leading to a large scatter of positive and negative NPVs based on U.S. location. PBPs demonstrate a defined threshold, based on energy price environment, below which favorable two-to-three-year PBPs predominate. This work is focused on the U.S. dairy industry, but international application in relation to fossil vs. electricity price regimes. Heat pumps have seen wider adoption in regions with a high ratio of fossil energy to electricity prices ($/MMBTU vs. $/kWh). The U.S. has plentiful natural gas resulting in lower fossil energy prices which has reduced heat pump adoption. This paper identifies potential first mover industries for HTHP adoption and their associated price regimes even in regions with lower ratios of fossil energy to electricity prices that exist many places globally.

ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION,↗

A New Understanding of Decarbonizing Industrial Process Heat

Analysis conducted over the last few years has improved our understanding of how industrial process heat is used in the United States. These improvements are important for characterizing the possibilities for industrial decarbonization. However, this analysis has largely been conducted from technical perspective and has remained disconnected from the social processes that underlie how industrial firms may adopt and implement technologies to decarbonize their process heating operations. This presentation introduces the concept of generic and configurational technology systems, and outlines the how the incorporation of user requirements and local contexts are essential for successful implementation of configurational systems. Insights drawn from semi-structured interviews with representatives of industrial firms are used to support the hypothesis that industrial process heat technologies are configurational. The potential implications for strategies to decarbonize process heat are then discussed.

adoption↗

PARFUME/BISON Fission Product Release Predictions versus AGR-3/4 Heating Test Measurements

The fuel performance modeling codes PARFUME (PARticle FUel ModEl) and BISON were used to predict the release of fission products silver, cesium, and strontium from as-irradiated fuel compacts containing tristructural isotropic (TRISO) coated particles during heating tests post irradiation. The AGR-3/4 fuel compacts were irradiated as part of the third and fourth series of planned experiments to support the Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) program. The heating tests were conducted at temperatures between 1200°C and 1700°C to simulate reactor accident conditions. The measured fission product release fractions from the heating tests were compared to modeling predictions calculated by PARFUME and BISON to evaluate how the codes compare to experimental results. Comparisons between the experimental measured fission product release fractions from silver, cesium and strontium indicate that both modeling codes overpredict the fission product release fractions demonstrating that the diffusivities used in the codes are overestimated. This results in a conservative estimate predicted by the codes when evaluating the fission product release relative to experimental data as it pertains to silver, cesium, and strontium.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Assessing Low-Temperature Geothermal Play Types: Relevant Data and Play Fairway Analysis Methods

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) is supporting the Geothermal Heating and Cooling Geospatial Datasets and Analysis project conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) as part of a broader effort to demonstrate the multi-faceted value of integrating geothermal power and geothermal heating and cooling (GHC) technologies into national decarbonization plans and community energy plans. Currently, there is a need to establish baseline low-temperature geothermal resource datasets and evaluate methods for deploying these technologies to provide the basis for supporting private sector investment. This project is focused on collecting baseline datasets, updating conceptual models, and creating Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) workflows for low-temperature (<150 degrees Celsius) geothermal resources of different geothermal play types (i.e., sedimentary basin, orogenic belts, and radiogenic geothermal play types) that could be used for geothermal heating and cooling (GHC), combined heat and power (CHP), and other geothermal direct uses (GDU) applications. Low-temperature geothermal resources are defined as reservoirs - natural or engineered - with temperatures <150 degrees Celsius. While the focus in the NREL effort is on GHC, resources at the upper end of this temperature range can also be used for small-scale power generation. This project does not include Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs) technologies because they can be effectively developed almost anywhere. Low-temperature geothermal resources have not been studied as extensively as higher- to medium-temperature geothermal resources, but there is recent interest in improving understanding of these types of resources with an uptick of interest in geothermal technologies for decarbonizing heating and cooling systems. In addition, Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and other emerging technologies for exploiting petrothermal resources have opened the possibility of utilizing deep sedimentary basin systems, where porous media provide permeability and high temperatures can be reached at great depths. This project takes the approach of classifying low- temperature geothermal resources by geothermal play type (GPT). We defined and characterized three major classes of low-temperature GPT: sedimentary basins, orogenic systems, and radiogenic systems. We develop methodologies for evaluating and analyzing the potential for these resources building off the PFA approach to de-risking geothermal exploration and characterization. The proposed PFA approach for low-temperature geothermal resources includes: 1) identifying relevant data (e.g., datasets such bottom-hole temperatures from oil and gas wells, heat flow data, Quaternary faults and stress field data, geophysical data, etc.); 2) grouping and weighting of relevant datasets into PFA criteria (e.g., geological, risk, and economic criteria); 3) uncertainty quantification; 4) developing favorability or common risk maps for low-temperature geothermal resources to identify potential locations for more focused data collection; and 5) estimating electric power generation and heating potential at those locations using the GeoRePORT Resource Size Assessment Tool (RSAT). This project should facilitate future deployment of GHC, CHP, and GDU by providing data, tools, and a workflow applicable to low-temperature geothermal resources. Increased deployment of GHC and GDU will help achieve national and local decarbonization goals.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

SATS Enhanced Capabilities and Demonstration of Improved Ramp Rates for In-Cell Testing

This report presents the development of the second-generation Severe Accident Test Station, referred to as SATS 2.0. SATS 2.0 represents a major advancement in addressing critical research needs for the United States nuclear industry, particularly in relation to fuel fragmentation, relocation, and dispersal (FFRD) concerns associated with the nuclear industry’s goal to extend fuel burnup beyond a peak rod average of 62 GWd/tU. The central objective of SATS 2.0 was the deployment a new furnace capable of achieving heating rates up to 100°C/s. This achievement addresses critical capability gaps, enabling assessment of prioritized research objectives established by the Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) Collaborative Research on Advanced Fuel Technologies (CRAFT) working group. These research objectives are directly related to high-burnup loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) conditions and the effects of prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures, both of which are crucial to enhancing nuclear safety and efficiency. The SATS 2.0 system builds upon prior experience with the original SATS system, which focused on evaluating accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) cladding concepts during accident conditions. However, the new system not only expands upon prior core capabilities by achieving higher heating rates with a better furnace but also plans to incorporate novel auxiliary systems to create a versatile platform for addressing current research needs. For example, a system was developed for the quantification and characterization of fission gas released during high-temperature transients. Additionally, in situ measurement capabilities were developed, such as digital image correlation which enabled the real-time capture of strain related to balloon and burst events and fiber-optic sensors that allowed for high-fidelity characterization of temperature gradients. Demonstration tests of the new 12-lamp furnace achieved heating rates up to 120°C/s. Notably, SATS 2.0 demonstrated its capacity to simulate LOCA burst tests at different pressures, yielding burst data that align with historical empirical models. Moreover, the system exhibited its capability to simulate complex conditions observed in anticipated operational occurrences, while effectively mitigating temperature overshoots. These accomplishments mark significant progress toward overcoming FFRD challenges and advancing the United States nuclear industry's safety basis and technical capabilities for extended burnup.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Accelerating Adoption of Energy-Efficient Technology with the Thermalize Model

The accelerating impacts of climate change destabilize food systems and ecosystems alongside the communities that rely on them. Thus, climate resilience is a health equity issue at both a physical (relating to biological impacts of pollution and environmental degradation) and a cultural level (loss of subsistence lifestyles, languages, etc). With roughly 20% of US energy-related greenhouse gas emissions stemming from heating, cooling, and powering households, accessible energy-efficient home retrofits are a critical element of climate change mitigation strategies. For communities already producing electricity from renewable sources, like Juneau, incentivizing ductless heat pump upgrades and energy efficiency retrofits provides an accessible pathway to transition households away from oil heating and drastically reduce emissions. Thermalize Juneau is a pilot program that will explore a repeatable framework for accelerating the adoption of energy-efficient technology in Alaska communities. This poster will describe Thermalize Juneau's goals and framework, progress through spring 2021, and future plans.

ductless heat pumps↗

Onsite Energy Techno-Economic Analysis Using REopt

Since 2019, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has collaborated with IEDO's Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Deployment Program and the CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) to expand the capabilities of NREL's publicly available REopt® tool for techno-economic analysis of on-site energy. As a result, capabilities to analyze heating and cooling loads and serve those loads with CHP were added to the REopt tool in 2021. Currently, NREL is using REopt to evaluate the economics and feasibility of deploying distributed energy resources at sites of 3-5 manufacturers. The analysis is based on location, site-specific load data, customized utility bill analysis, and other criteria such as resilience needs and decarbonization targets. The objectives of the current effort are to (1) assist manufacturers with analyzing on-site energy options, including CHP, solar photovoltaics (PV), wind, and battery storage, (2) validate the capabilities and use of REopt to provide technical assistance to manufacturers, and (3) publish case studies showcasing the engagement, key takeaways, and lessons learned. Future work is expected to include additional REopt capabilities for evaluating other technologies to reduce scope 1 emissions, such as electrifying process heating loads, using carbon-free fuels, and other clean heat strategies.

ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Heat Vulnerability Index Development and Mapping

Extreme heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the U.S. Exposure to extreme heat will be exacerbated due to global climate change. It is thus crucial to design a key performance indicator, heat vulnerability index (HVI), to represent overall heat risk which can help identify susceptible regions and sub-populations in cities in the face of heatwaves. Most existing HVI tools only consider outdoor heat exposure. This paper developed an HVI web map tool incorporating both the outdoor and the indoor heat exposure, as well as population sensitivity and adaptation capability across census tracts in the city of Fresno, California. The tool can assist the planning of infrastructure and resources to reduce residents’ vulnerability to extreme heat events.

Xu, Yujie↗

Bottom-up assessment of industrial heat pump applications in U.S. Food manufacturing

Decarbonization of the industrial process heat supply through electrification could contribute significantly to climate change mitigation efforts. In the U.S. industry, thermal processes accounted for more than two-thirds of the total final energy demand in 2021. Cross-cutting electrification technologies like industrial heat pumps are suitable for the process heat supply to several industrial unit operations in a sustainable way while also improving overall energy efficiency. This study employs a bottom-up approach to investigate the techno-enviro-economic potentials of deploying high-temperature and steam-generating heat pumps in the major U.S. food manufacturing sectors in different timeframes. The results show that the annual technical potential energy and CO 2 savings by electrifying process heat supply are 325 PJ (or approximately 20% of the total final energy demand in U.S. food manufacturing) and 31 MtCO 2 (equivalent to the annual CO 2 emissions from over 6 million cars in the U.S.) in 2050, respectively; however, these incur additional costs in each sector. Although there may be individual cost-effective opportunities for electrifying heat supply in specific industrial sites, the overall costs are estimated to be high in the food sectors due to the large disparity between electricity and natural gas prices and low heat source temperatures. To overcome the identified techno-economic barriers, comprehensive action plans for different stakeholders are needed. In conclusion, this study provides novel insights that should inform policymakers’ and executives’ decisions about the electrification of the current and future U.S. industrial heat supply in relevant industrial sectors.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Revitalizing Canton City Schools: A Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Efficiency Plan

The primary objective of this project was to focus on conducting the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level 2 Energy Audits of all the schools/school facilities in the portfolio, and on developing a comprehensive Strategic Plan for implementing energy improvements. The overall aim of budget period 1 (BP1) was to implement Energy Audits and the Strategic Plan to provide a clear pathway to prioritize energy improvements as well as allow the district to access private sector funding (if needed) and/or tax credits and realize high-impact health and safety benefits for Budget Period 2.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Characterization of Embedded Sensors in Stainless Steel Test Articles and Design/Planning for MAGNET Testing

The nuclear industry is pursuing microreactors that can be factory assembled and deployed to remote regions for reliable power generation. One class of microreactors uses a monolithic metal core block coupled to heat pipes for heat rejection, which results in significant thermal stresses in the monolithic structures. This work describes the initial characterization and test plan for evaluating stainless steel test articles fabricated with embedded sensors for measuring heat pipe performance limits, as well as spatially distributed temperatures and strains during electrically heated thermal testing. The electrically heated testing will be performed in the non-nuclear Microreactor Agile Non-Nuclear Testbed and Single Primary Heat Extraction and Removal Emulator facilities located at Idaho National Laboratory. The goals of these tests are to (1) accurately monitor temperature and strain distributions that result from differential thermal expansion in the test articles and (2) quantify heat rejection limits of heat pipes as a function of operating temperature and working fluid during steady-state and transient operations. More generally, the ability to monitor component and system health during microreactor operation is attractive for providing a high sensor density to inform a limited number of microreactor operators to ultimately reduce operation and maintenance costs and move toward semi-autonomous operation. This report discusses the characterization of embedded thermocouples and fiber optic sensors in relevant test articles, including cylindrical pipes and hexagonal monolithic test articles for heat pipe-based reactors. The sensors were embedded by placing them in machined channels and then building up additional material by using ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM). UAM is a solid-state welding process that uses downward pressure and a lateral scrubbing motion to bond thin metal foils to a base material layer by layer. The ultrasonic welding process relies on the plastic deformation of the metal—as opposed to typical melting and solidification—to break oxide scales and bond the metal layers. The characterization of these embedded sensors included evaluating fiber optic signal attenuation, observing residual strain in the fibers, investigating microstructural and mechanical aspects, and demonstrating the sensors under various thermal loads and acoustic vibrations. Post-embedding characterization showed a fine grain structure (<1 μm) near the interfaces of the bonded foils as a result of severe deformation from the welding process. A large increase in hardness was observed at the foil interfaces and the fiber/matrix interface compared with the bulk matrix. Even when compared with the SS304 interfaces, the higher hardness observed around the embedded fiber suggests a higher degree of deformation due to the soft metal coating around the silica fiber core. The distributed fiber-optic temperature sensors and embedded thermocouples reliably measured temperature distributions during steady-state and transient thermal testing. The embedded fiber-optic sensors reliably measured strain during both transient and steady-state testing and properly identified resonant frequencies during acoustic testing.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Exploring Grid-Interactive Efficient Building Strategies for Laboratories Through Energy Modeling

Laboratories are often overlooked in demand flexibility research due to constraints on their operations as mission critical facilities, despite the major role they play in an organization's emissions. Laboratories consume 3-4 times more energy than a typical office building and are commonly the largest energy users on any campus. Consequently, most laboratories in the United States are significant contributors to their organization's carbon footprint if their energy needs are met through the combustion of fossil fuels. As part of the initiative to decarbonize laboratories, this report documents an analysis on specifically grid-interactive efficient building (GEB) opportunities for reducing energy costs and emissions associated with laboratory operations. The goal of this initiative was to provide a case study and guidance on how to use OpenStudio and REopt as modeling tools for GEB technologies and strategies in laboratory environments across different climate zones in the United States. The analysis found that efficiency-based GEB strategies had the most significant impact on laboratory operations, while load-shedding and load-shifting GEB strategies produced smaller results. The culmination of these approaches applied across all five climate zones generated on average: 1) 28% energy cost savings and 30% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions, and 2) 4% enhanced energy cost savings under a time-of-use (TOU) pricing schedule compared to traditional pricing schemes. Grid-interactive efficiency building measures were found to produce the greatest energy savings in both electricity and natural gas, particularly in regions with high electrical loads, such as warm climates for cooling. Laboratories that had high levels of natural gas consumption, meanwhile, experienced the greatest emission reductions. The report concludes with an analysis on the opportunities for flexible loads in lab spaces and how small-scale measures in addition to opaque pricing structures for peak demand could become barriers to demand flexibility planning. The report also explores how electrifying laboratory buildings with heat pumps could reduce energy costs and GHG emissions.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Potential Impact of Flexible CHP on the Future Electric Grid in California

This presentation summarizes results from the “Modeling the Impact of Flexible CHP on the Future Electric Grid In California” report (doi:10.2172/1649545). The analysis estimated the value of flexible CHP to the gird in a somewhat decarbonized grid in California. The analysis found that advanced, flexible CHP can more than double capacity with a 6 year payback period, save site owners up to $760 million, reduce CA-ISOs operating cost by over $700 million, and eliminate hours of grid stress in CA-ISO.

CHP↗

Accelerating Nuclear-Integrated Data Centers in the USA: SWOT Analysis, Power-Thermal Management Strategies, and Industrial-Scale Demonstration and Potential Deployment

Driven by the growth in digital services, cloud computing, AI, and manufacturing, data centers face rising energy demands that challenge traditional power sources and cooling efficiency. This study explores using nuclear power to meet these demands, focusing on accelerated reactor technology deployment and highlighting needs such as N+1/N+2 power supplies and integrated power-thermal management. A SWOT analysis addresses grid connectivity, reactors, and site selection, particularly DOE sites. Reactor technology demonstration and deployment could be accelerated by leveraging test facilities such as MARVEL, MAGNET, TED, FAS, DOME, LOTUS, ATR, Energy System Proving Grounds, and upcoming Energy Launch Pads, along with modeling and simulation tools such as RELAP5, MOOSE, VERA, RAVEN, and FORCE. The potential power and thermal management options, including various cooling technologies, waste-heat utilization, and an industrial-scale demonstration plan, aim to accelerate the integration of nuclear power and data centers in the USA, while emphasizing community and stakeholder engagement and synergistic efforts.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗

Urban microclimate and its impact on building performance: A case study of San Francisco

Urban microclimate exerts an increasing influence on urban buildings, energy, and sustainability. This study uses 10-year measured hourly weather data at 27 sites in San Francisco, California, to (1) analyze and visualize the urban microclimate patterns and urban heat island effect; (2) simulate annual energy use and peak electricity demand of typical large office buildings and large hotels to investigate the influence of urban microclimate on building performance; (3) simulate indoor air temperature of a single-family house without air-conditioning during the record three-day heatwave of 2017, to quantify the divergence of climate resilience due to urban microclimate effect. Results show significant microclimate effects in San Francisco with up to 11 °C outdoor air temperature difference between the coastal and downtown areas on September 1, 2017, during the record three-day heatwave. The simulated energy results of the prototype large office and large hotel buildings using the 2017 weather data show over 100% difference in annual heating energy use and 65% difference in annual cooling energy use across different stations; as well as up to 30% difference in peak cooling electricity demand. The impacts on annual site or source energy use are minimal (less than 5%) as cooling and heating in a mild climate are a relatively small portion of overall building energy use in San Francisco. Results also show the microclimate effects influence indoor air temperature of unconditioned homes by up to 5 °C. Newer buildings and homes are much less affected by microclimate effects due to more stringent performance requirements of the building envelope and energy systems. Furthermore, these findings inform that San Francisco microclimate variations should be considered in urban energy planning, building energy codes and standards, as well as heat resilience policymaking.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Design, Flow Field, and Heat Transfer Characterization of the Conjugate Aero-Thermal Test Facility at NETL

A new aerothermal test facility was constructed for the purpose of studying film cooling performance in an environment that accurately simulates conjugate heat transfer characteristics that exist in engine operation. Here, this paper details the design of the facility and the plan for conducting steady state film cooling experiments to improve the understanding of conjugate heat transfer scaling from laboratory to engine conditions. The test facility consists of two separate low channels (hot gas/coolant) and each gas path has a flow conditioning section, a convergent nozzle and a test section/channel with viewports. Numerical simulations were conducted to predict flow field characteristics supporting the design of the flow loop facility. Preliminary experiments were conducted to characterize the flow field using velocity and temperature profile measurements. In addition, infrared (IR) thermography methods were developed to measure surface temperatures on the hot side of the test plate. The IR measurement methods including calibration of the IR camera is explained in detail. It was concluded that appropriate hot gas path flow conditioning could be achieved using a strainer-like tube, a perforated plate, and a honeycomb-mesh screen system upstream of the test section. Flow field measurements from preliminary experiments showed that the boundary layer profile follows the law of the wall.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗